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Steve has been here before. It's been a long time, but he remembers the brief feeling of euphoria that he had experienced and the welcoming strangers he'd met in the bar. His apartment is still just as he left it, a call back to the apartment he used to share with Bucky so long ago.

He remembers Wanda being here also and telling him about the New Avengers Facility. It isn't quite as disorienting to find himself here again, an escape provided by a random doorway. This time he doesn't fight the escape, instead he walks through and begins wandering through the city, looking for the New Avengers Facility and his friends - new and old.

For the first time in months, he doesn't bother trying to hide his face. He knows enough about this place to know that the Accords don't hold here.

Network

[Of course, there might be a faster way to know what he needs to know.]

Avengers, report.

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[In an authoritative newscaster's voice:] It's sunny, with scattered clouds and a chance of light rain in the evening. Temperatures will lower at nightfall but will remain steadily around 40° for the duration of the day. While this means most of us will be needing coats and an umbrella for a night on the town, if you’re tall and shaped like one Steven Grant Rogers, be sure to do none of these so that you look like a wet dog for a few hours and remind everyone that Captain America can’t get sick. Back to you, Steve-o.

[Guess who.]

Bucky?

[ Even if he understands this world isn't his world, it's still a shock to hear that familiar voice. Or maybe it's more of a shock to hear that voice so playful, when his last memories of him are incredibly somber and tinged with a different kind of loss.

His words catch up with him only a moment later and Steve lets out a surprised chuckle. He clears his throat. ]

Hey, I like dogs.

[It’s obviously him, so he doesn’t acknowledge the name. He takes a moment before answering because the chuckle catches him off guard—he never thought he’d hear it again.]

That’s cause you haven’t had one shit on your carpet before. [His tone is back to it’s older usual, dry wit with a touch of honey (it's easier than acknowledging the reality right now).] You’re a casual observer compared to people who actually own any.

[Not that he ever had one either. His parents had enough trouble with the four of them, and it wasn’t viable once the Depression hit.]

And, anyway, I said a wet dog.

[ He'd always wanted a dog when he was little, but there'd been no place to keep one. That and his ma said it'd probably trigger his asthma, anyway. That didn't mean that he hadn't fed a few strays in his day. ]

We didn't have carpet, remember?

[ There's a distinct grin in his voice, but the question isn't easy to miss either. Does he remember? ]

Okay, okay. If this is your way of getting me to use a coat and umbrella, I give. Where are you?

You say that like it’d somehow be easier to get it out of the cracks in your floorboards. Ain’t like you didn’t have a rug or two either. Rugs are the same thing. [Yeah. He remembers.

But he doesn't know where he is. He's still pretty sure he's having the weirdest fever dream when he shouldn't even be fully conscious.]

I think I’m in some weird kinda purgatory. Or hell, since you’re here too. [Ha. This teasing is so much easier when he doesn't have to look at the sadness in Steve's eyes.]

Get a double breasted coat. You’d look damn handsome.

[ Steve chuckles again, hope making it's way into his chest as he listens to his best friend gripe about a dog that never even existed. ]

I don't think so, I've been here before. Not enough fire and brimstone.

[ He'd already be walking towards the sound of his voice if he knew where it was coming from.]

Look around you, what do you see?

[Steve’s been here before? Well. Shit. Maybe it ain’t a dream. Maybe he really is awake. That certainly does feel like real wind against his face. But why?

He pauses, pretending to look around, even though he already knows how to answer.]

Fire and brimstone. [You can hear the smile in his voice. Steve makes it too damn easy.]

[ Bucky, you jerk. ]

You know, you could make this easier for me. [Pause.] If you wanted.

[ He glances up, seeing the apartment building in the distance. ]

Have you been to the apartment building yet?

[Way to make him feel guilty about it, pal. But the response is familiar, even without a direct memory to place it with. This was just how Steve was and obviously still is; he always knows just the right words to say to get under Bucky’s skin.

He hesitates, debates remarking how this is nothing compared to what Steve did in Italy to allay any sting from the teasing. He takes a slow breath instead.]

Headed there now. [He wants to get a good look of the place from the roof.] Why?

Edited 2017-01-08 06:05 (UTC)

Avengers? Really? Do I get to be one?

[ There's the sound of some ruffling, some muffled noises an 'ow' as it sounds like the PDC gets dropped on someone's foot then the sound of scrambling as someone picks it up and.....switches it to video. There's a guy without a shirt on and a Spider-man mask waggling his fingers at Steve in a 'hi' sort of way ]

[ Cue a blonde woman peering at him. She actually doesn't recognize him. It's not her fault. She's only on 'earth' for a few years at most before she has to pop back into another dimension and while she is on earth, she's pretty busy trying to help contain supernatural 'troubles'. Audrey doesn't have much time to watch TV]

Avengers? Is that a secret code for something?

'Avengers'?

I'll meet you there.

[ Because he's not going to be happy until he's seen Bucky in person. He needs to see for himself that he's okay. ]

[ Steve is familiar with the mask, even if it doesn't quite look like the same build of the kid from Queens he met. ]

Queens? When did you get here?

Sort of.

[ He pauses apologetically and smiles. ]

It's the name of my team back home. I thought it'd be the fastest way to see if any of them are here.

It's the name of my team. I was trying to see if any of them were here. I think I mainly just confused people.

Ah. I understand, and are they here?

Not many of them.

I'm Steve Rogers. Have you been here long?

[ No, not the same kid, but Peter doesn't know that.]

Yup. Actually, I've been here for almost a year.

[ Which is a little staggering to think about. ]

What about you, Sir?

Not really, just a few weeks. I arrived the night of the big bonfire. How about you?

Oh, sorry. I'm Audrey Parker. I was an FBI agent turned small town police detective. Now I'm trying to see if there's a need for a police department here.

A year?

[ Time definitely isn't linear here, then. ]

I was here once before, but it's been a while. I'm not sure how long. I've just found myself here again.

You can call me Steve, if you'd like.

I was here before, but I think it's been a little while. I just found myself here again.

In my experience there's always a need for some sort of police department. Then again, I'm a soldier, so order is something I gravitate towards.

[ No, not in the least, but he'd figured that out by talking to a few people here and there before. ]

Walked through any doors lately?

Uhm--ye-yeah. Okay. Okay, I--I can do that, Si--Steve.

I've heard this place works that way. Did you do anything in particular immediately before returning home? [ Audrey wants to get back to Haven. She needs to get back to Haven]

I think so too. I'm going to look into setting one up here. If you ever need a base of operations, you're welcome to use it.

[ Steve grins despite himself. ]

That's better. And yeah, I did walk through a door to get here. I'm guessing that's how most people find themselves here?

Not that I recall. I wish I could be more help.

I appreciate that. Let me know if I can help in any way.

Roger dodger, Rogers. [The unabashed amusement is painfully hard to miss.

He’s only a couple minutes away, but he’s stuck somewhere between hurrying because he wants to make sure Steve’s doing okay or taking his time because he isn’t sure how awkward things are gonna be since the last they talked was him putting himself into cryo without really telling Steve about it until the day of. It’s a low blow even if they got past it; Steve was forced to let him do what’d he’d planned even just for the sake of appearance, and Bucky’s not exactly proud that he needed to do it in the first place.

He ends up not deciding on which pace would be better and takes the whole two minutes. Probably for the better. Steve shouldn’t have to wait on him. His eyes are peeled for that familiar head of hair as soon as he’s in the lobby.]

[ It doesn't take long for Steve to arrive, his eyes sweeping the room as well. When it's Bucky he won't bother acting like it's anything less than important. Not after everything they've been through. It's not that Bucky stands out, necessarily, it's just that Steve is all too familiar with that stance. As if he is ready for nothing and everything all at once. He doesn't hesitate in making his way towards him. ]

Buck. [ He stops short of reaching out to touch him, though there's a faint smile at the edge of his lips. It doesn't entirely cloud the worry in his eyes, but it does say he's glad to see him.]

You okay?

[When he sees Steve approaching, he instinctively tenses, bracing himself for...no reason. It’s not the same as it used to be, an arm sliding over, a friendly pat, and a gentle squeeze, a casual reminder for something they never needed reminding of in the first place. Yet the memory still prepares him for it, as if it should happen even though it never does. He feels guilty, the way he’d anxiously tensed when Steve grasped his shoulder in Siberia obviously saying volumes. And here he is, still reacting like Steve wouldn't respect what he needs.

He dips his head, shrugs his shoulders to shake of the feeling. The smile on his face is false as he replies, even though having Steve near is the closest thing to happy he knows how to be anymore.]

Right as rain. Still short the arm, but I make it work. [Like he had been doing already. Like he always does.] How ’bout you?

Edited 2017-02-13 01:11 (UTC)

Yeah. I mean, as far as I can tell. I've tried opening the door in the wall, that blue one? But it never goes anywhere. It's just a rock wall behind it. I don't know if it's that way for everyone or not.

It's okay. I'm just looking for any clues that will tell me how to get home.

Thanks.

[ As absurd as it sounds, Steve had been so focused on Bucky's face and trying to read it, that he hadn't immediately realized that he was short the mechanical arm. He takes in all of Bucky with a sweep of his eyes to make sure he's not missing anything else. ]

I'm back here. [ He's not entirely sure what that means, but if Bucky's here too he can't complain too much.]

What's the last thing you remember?

[He catches the once-over Steve gives him and does the same in return. He hates that he feels immediate relief as soon as his mind concludes that Steve’s all in one piece and looking healthy as ever. He’s reminded too much of those moments, scattered memories as they are, of Steve looking like shit and his heart lodging itself in his throat even as he smiles and tries to ease the moment with something light and comical. He swallows, pressing the feeling back down into his stomach and keeping his false front steady.]

Back? [He blinks a bit, confusion with the phrasing clear, but he let’s it slide off like water.] Well, [his brows furrow upward] to be honest, it’s not the clearest thing in my head, but I remember us in the lab. Techs setting up the cryo pod.

[Steve looked at him uncertainly. Steve wanted him to change his mind. But when he couldn’t say no, he’d fought back with reason, and he felt dirty for it. It was the easiest way not to lose himself to his selfishness again, not to lose to Steve. He refused to look at Steve when the deep sleep claimed him.]

After that, I was...dreaming or something. Ended up here somehow.

[Going through a door that disappeared is hard to describe without sounding loony.]

Steve remembers that day too and the way he'd had to hold himself back from stopping them as they'd frozen Bucky yet again. It hadn't felt right then and it hadn't felt since, but he couldn't say no. It wasn't his call to make. Bucky had lost so much of his life, of his control to others -- Steve couldn't be added to that list.

Steve's expression shifts slightly, his brow furrowing slightly. "It's been three months since then for me." He forces a smile. "This place is different though. People from different times and worlds are here."

"I'm just glad to see you."

“Three months...” He repeats this as if it’ll mean something. But he doesn’t know how much time has passed since he’s been put in the fridge. Looking off to the side, he nods slowly acting as if he’s considering the time gap, but really he’s just thinking about what it all means if people from different times and worlds are converging someplace.

At the tail end of Steve’s words, his eyes quickly find his friend’s again. The sleep ever only feels like moments, a blink of time that you never remember, so he doesn’t exactly feel he misses having seen Steve, that the face of the man in front of him is something that feels foreign as much as it is familiar. Even so, he feels just as glad all the same. He’s here. With Steve. And Steve is here with him.

“Me too.” A faint, genuine smile slides into place. And then he changes tracks.

“So what’ve you been up to?” A friendly hand finds Steve’s shoulder and gives a hearty clap to it followed with a shake. It’s an invitation for Steve to ease up. It’s just Them right now. Right? Not techs. No one else around to judge them. They may as well try to get back into it if they can, especially if they’re in this place together. Who knows what it can hold.

Steve has been up to a lot since he left Bucky in T'challa's care. But it seems like there's more than enough time to go over that. Plus, there's that nagging accusation that Sam made just a few days ago about him taking unnecessary risks since he left Bucky behind. In Steve's mind they're not unnecessary, but they do go a long way in satisfying a part of him that can't seem to let go of an untouchable and building frustration. It's better to get it out by pointing it at those deserving of it, than his own team. Or what's left of it.

"Couple of missions," Steve says, leaving things vague. He gives Bucky a small shrug, relaxing under his touch. "Nothing too important. Our hands are a little tied with the way things are. But I don't think much of that matters here. Time kind of stands still here. For as long as you want it to."

And how long has he been waiting for a place like that?

“Stands still?” Of course that’s the question that comes immediately. The idea seems so outwardly preposterous, especially given the decades the both of them have lost. “Whaddya mean?”

As far as he can tell, time is in fact moving. Time certainly had to pass for him to come the distance to meet Steve. There has to be time for conversation to happen too. Actions themselves are a process spanning time, aren’t they? He tries not to seem too concerned with the notion entirely, but the fact is that anyone saying a phrase like that so seriously without a “seems like” or something seems absolutely bonkers since time standing still is...well, impossible.

Bucky’s face may or may not reflect a possible expression of, ‘Good God, Rogers, did you forget how to use words properly or are you losing your marbles?’

"It sounds crazy, I know." He knows that look, and more importantly what's behind it. He thought it was crazy too, but there's no denying that it's true. "To--" He stops himself, pressing his mouth in a thin line before puhsing on. "Bruce would probably explain it better. But the fact is that when we return to ourselves, we'll be right where we left everything. It's some kind of time vacuum."

Again, he knows how crazy it sounds. "Come on. I'll show you your apartment."

Not that he’s saying no to being shown his apartment but, Bucky isn’t going to be so quick to let this topic go. It’s. Bizarre.

“What do you mean, ‘when we return to ourselves’?”

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